A GLORIOUS ACQUITTAL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 28, 1 February 1877, Page 4

A GLORIOUS ACQUITTAL.

A touching account is given by the American papers of the scene which occurred in court at Trenton, New Jersey, reoently, when Mrs House, who lately killed her husband, the famous "divorce lawyer," by shooting him with a pistol, was found " not guilty " of a charge of murder by a sympathising jury. When, after five hours and a half's deliberation it was announced that the jary had agreed oa a their verdict, Irene (Mrs House) and her father came into court, and sat down opposite the reporters, at every one of .whom she looked with slow deliberation The old Chief Justice took his seat behind the bench, and "again tbe . lovely azure eyes of the prisoner were elevated to his in a sympathising way/ then the jury trooped in, and "her eyes scanned every man of tbem, hardly missing a line or a farrow in their; twelve faces." The father trembled a little, but Mrs House showed no sign of apprehension. " She knew by Born e: mysterious means only known to that wonderous pieoe of mechanism, her female heart, that she was acquitted," and when the clerk of tbe court in answer to her enquiry ss to what the chances were, replied that they were "favorable," she said in a dulcet whisper, " J knew it, God told me so." When the verdiot of " not guilty " waa announced the applause io court was deafening, every person present simultaneously stamping the floor with his feet. Mrs Houae and ber father at once advanced to the jurymen, and shook hauds with each of them, with the exception of one, whe seemed to avoid the touch of the lady's hand with unaccountable timidity. Mrs House warmly thanked them for their verdict. " She smiled, her father smiled, the jurymen bowed and smiled, and joy and happiness took possession of all." The victorious Irene then took her fathers' arm. and started for their journey home to reoeive the congratulations of relatives and friends. Their progress was a continued triumph. Such a scene, it is stated, has rarely beeu witnessed, aad can only be accounted for by the fact that "seldom has a mora beautiful or innocent looking woman been charged with murder" than the fair Irene, who is said to have already received an offer of marriage from her late husband's brother. ■~- ~